Russia hopes India will soon join SCO

Nov 18 2011

RIR

Source: AP

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed hope that India will soon become a full member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), according to Ria Novosti report.

"Russia supports the resolution of the
issue of India's transfer from observer status to full membership in the SCO as
soon as possible. We have expounded on this position repeatedly and expect to
achieve progress in the issue soon," Lavrov said.

Sergey Lavrov made this
statement during his meeting with Mr. S.M. Krishna, External Affairs Minister
of India, on 17th November 2011 in Moscow. The two sides reviewed the status of
bilateral relations, particularly in the context of the upcoming 12th
Annual bilateral Summit to be held in Moscow in December between Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh and President Dmitry Medvedev. The two sides also discussed
regional, global and international issues.

Mr. Krishna emphasized
that both sides are currently making efforts to ensure that our cooperation in trade
and investment increases both quantitatively and qualitatively so that the
target of US $ 20 billion is achieved by 2015 as envisaged by the leadership of
the two countries, as is stated in the press-release by the Indian Embassy in
Russia.

Mr. Krishna stressed
that since the declaration of our Strategic Partnership a little over a decade
ago, India-Russia cooperation has undergone a qualitative change in almost all
areas of our interaction, and particularly the main areas such as defence,
space and nuclear energy. Both sides are
currently making efforts to ensure that our cooperation in trade and investment
increases both quantitatively and qualitatively, so that the target of US 20
billion by 2015 can be achieved.

Mr. Krishna and Mr.
Lavrov also discussed the international situation, particularly the situation
in Afghanistan, developments in the Middle East and North Africa, the Iran
nuclear issue, developments in the Asia Pacific region, including the recently
concluded APEC Summit. India and Russia
share similar perceptions on such issues.
Both sides agreed to discuss these issues both bilaterally and in the multilateral
format - in the framework of SCO, EAS, BRICS, and at the United Nations General
Assembly and UN Security Council.